Art Supplies - Or, Why Do I Choose Amazon?

No single store can be qualified as the "best" store - I'm just going to give it to you straight out as my first words on this topic, no sugar coating to it at all.

No single store has the same exact prices on all products found in other stores; no single store has the same exact shipping and/or return policies for online or in-store purchases as another store; no single store has a brick-and-mortar store near every person that needs one; no single store carries every single item you need.

Over the years I have managed to just deal with the fact I'm stuck with either 1) getting things from a not-art-supply-store or 2) buying things online.  I don't have the time or the means to go out of my way to an art supply store that is over two hours away from me just to pick up a specific fineliner brush.  I don't have a reason to go that far in the opposite direction for a better deal on a large canvas.

I'm writing this, specifically about Amazon, because I noticed how I have set up my Benable listings for art supplies on a budget (I may obtain a small commission for qualifying purchases from links on said lists at no additional cost to you; your participation in such is greatly appreciated) -- I start with Amazon, and then trickle down through the other online art supply chains and office supply stores that have some of the exact same products, though not always the same exact prices.  More often than not, most of them don't have all of the same products AT ALL and they end up lacking severely in relation to what is openly available on Amazon.

Stores can be very brand-specific, regardless of store or brand or whatever it is you're actually trying to purchase -- you can also find stores that are regionally specific, mostly grocery stores.  (You know what I mean if you've travelled a little bit, as not every grocery store carries White Lily flour -- as noted by America's Test Kitchen.)

I tend to wander toward Amazon and shop for some of the exact same products that I can find at a lot of other stores.  Not everything is the same price, but when you look at shipping (or lack of it) you tend to lean in one direction over the other.

I'm also an Amazon Prime member -- with Amazon's Prime Visa card, I get a little bit of extra spending money at the end of each month because I bought my items on Amazon rather than deciding to wander off to another website or storefront.

If you were not aware of the cash back potential on a Prime Visa card, now you know.  If you are interested in signing up for such, you need to

1. Be an Amazon Prime member;
2. Sign up for an Amazon Prime Visa card;
3. Keep your Prime membership in good standing order in order to keep said card.

It's pretty straightforward on your end, though Amazon still has to go through Chase Bank and Chase Bank then needs to confirm your eligibility to hold said credit card. If you don't want to be an Amazon Prime member, they also have an Amazon Visa - no Prime membership needed.

I know, dear reader -- as you're reading this it probably feels as if it has gone from "YES this post is a personal declaration of why I do XYZ" into "Hi, I'm trying to push you into applying for a credit card."  I haven't even posted links yet, why would you think I'm trying to push you? ^^;;  (They're at the bottom of the post if you're that eager -- and there are some pretty awesome possibilities for persons ages 18-24, did you know you can get six (6) months of Prime for free?)

I don't always use Amazon (shocking, isn't it?), as I can't always find exactly what I'm looking for there, either!  Like I said, no two stores are alike -- I can pop down to a hardware store for a large brush and pay a little bit extra for it, but the same brush that would have cost less two hours away (or even on Amazon) would have cost more than what I will pay for it locally.

If you don't quite get what I'm saying ...just trust me on this:  You may pay more in gas and time going to an art store over an hour away (2 hours from me, one way, is 4 hours of my time -- not doing that unless I'm already over there for something else) or in shipping (not all items in certain online stores are specifically through said stores, and shipping can either be free [yay] or can cost more than the item you are trying to purchase [boo] regardless of who is selling it to you) than what the product itself costs in total at your local retailer.

There actually ARE items on my Benable list that ARE cheaper in stores beyond Amazon -- be it because of a sale, or astronomical shipping charges, there are better options with other stores sometimes.  Shop around.  Check prices.  Know your limits as well as how soon you need the item you're interested in purchasing.

A set of acrylic markers on Amazon [as an example] would have cost me 33$US after taxes and shipping charges were applied.  The amount of time spent waiting for them to be delivered was marked as 3+ days, standard shipping.

I found the exact same markers on the Walmart website for 11$US after taxes -- and shipping was free.  The acrylic markers were delivered to my doorstep in less than 48 hours.

Insane, right?  (No, I haven't put up video evidence of using them yet -- I'm always nervous.  Always.)  No matter what store, online or off, you prefer to use ...you may find a better deal somewhere else.  Check before you purchase.  Don't be spontaneous (unless you have an OMG MATERIALS GIMME GIMME demon lurking inside you like so many of us artistic types do, and then we just have to restrain said demon sometimes) just because something is on sale.  (Yes, I bought a set of pens at an insane price because I wanted them, hush.) ... (I like my pens, hush.)

I'm still looking at other art supply websites to find those ARTISTRO fineliner pens I've been testing, as I feel they are worth looking for by anyone interested in testing them for themselves.  I feel they are worth having ME search for them elsewhere for you just in case you're a bit more anti-Amazon and feel they aren't worth your time if they're ONLY available on Amazon.

I'm pro-creativity, not pro-capitalism.

I'll call myself "meh-capitalism" and leave it at that, as we sort of have to spend money to make money (even if the money we make is the moment of excitement when we've finished something - I like that kind of money, though it only feeds excitement and not a hungry belly).

I'm willing to go the extra mile to find things for others (regardless of the fact I could be doing something else with my time - I try to use my "I'm bored, what can I do to stop being bored" time to do my searches), ESPECIALLY if it's to help them find a good deal.

Speaking of good deals, I think I've reached the end of my speechifying for the time being.

Not an Amazon Prime member?  Sign up with a free thirty (30) day trial:  Sign up here! 
If you are a student, or are between the ages of 18 and 24, your first six (6) MONTHS may be free.

If you are interested, you can apply for a Prime Visa or Amazon Visa here.

[My Open-Door Policy: As of December 6, 2025, Amazon will reward me with a 50$US Amazon gift card, up to 500$US annually, for anyone who applies through the card application link above and is approved for either card.

Persons approved for the Prime Visa instantly receive a 100$US Amazon gift card; persons approved for the Amazon Visa instantly receive a 50$US Amazon gift card.

 You can read more about the differences between the Prime Visa and the Amazon Visa before you make your decisions of 1) if you even want to sign up, and 2) which one is better for you personally.

"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases" as far as any highlighted links are involved on this page that sends you directly to an Amazon webpage.]

Now that that's out of the way?

Happy Amazoning!  And do plenty of price checking! :D

-- Mathie Tremas.

P.S. Price checking?  Yeah, there's an app for that.

Image on top from pixaby.